Recoil-operated firearm.



No. 639,42l. Patented Dec.'l9, I899. P. MAUSER.

BECUIL OPERATED FIREARM.

(Application filed Dec. 27, 1898.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet l.

Patented Dec. l9, I899.

P. MAUSER.

BECOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

(Application filed Dec. 27, 1898.)

5 Sheets$heet 2.

(No Model.)

Patented Dec. 19, I899.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

No. 639,42l.

P. MAUSER.

BEGOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

(Application filed. Dec. 27, 1898.)

(No Model.)

Patented Dec. [9, I899.

P. MAUSER.

RECOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

(Application filed Dec. 27, 1898.)

5 SheetsSheet 4.

(No Model.) 7

No. 639,42l. Patented Dec. l9, I899. P. MAUSER.

REGOIL OPERATED FIREARM.

(Application filed Dec 27, 1898.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

llllllllmm PATENT FFICE.

.PAUL MAUSER, OF OBERNDORF, GERMANY.

RECOlL-OPERATED FIREARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,421, dated December19, 1899.

Application filed December 27, 1898. Serial No. 700,396. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL MAUSER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany,residing at Oberndorf-on-the-Neckar, in the German Empire, have inventeda new and useful selfloading firearm capable of being used as anautomatic or as a single-fire weapon, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact de scription.

This invention relates to firearms; and it consists in the novelconstruction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully describedand claimed. r

The principal object of this invention is to c'onstructa firearm whichcan be fired normally at a prearranged low rate of fire and which canquickly be changed on the word of command and at a critical stage of anaction so as to convert it into a rapid-fire, automatic, or self-loadingfirearm.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the firearm. Fig. 2 is aside View of the frame from the right. Fig. 3 is a side view of theframe from the left. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the lockand magazine, showing the breech closed and the weapon discharged. Fig.5 is a sectional plan view of the parts shown, in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is aplan view of the said parts. Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on the lineI I in Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a cross-section taken on the line II II in Fig.

section of portions of the lock, showing thehammer-catch engaging withthe hammer. Fig. 17 is a plan view of the hammer-catch. Figs. 18 and 19are detail views of the lockframe. Figs. 20, 21, and 22 are detail viewsof the lock-frame and barrel-catch. Figs. 23 and 24 are detail views ofthe firing mechanism, showing the hammer in its two positions. Fig. 25shows detail views of the sear. Fig. 26 shows detail views of thesear-pawl. Fig.

27 shows detail views of the barrel-catch.

- The barrel a is slidable longitudinally in the stock I), and b is aremovable cover m0rthe breech-bolt d when the breech is closedby thesaid bolt, as shown in Fig. 5. The dogs are provided with projections ain front of their pivots and projections a behind their pivots. Amagazine case or frame' 0 is secured to the stock and is provided withshoulders 0 and c.

When the receiver and barrel are moved forward, the projections 61,strike the shoulders c and pass under them, so that the breech-bolt islocked to the receiver, as shown in Fig. 5. When the receiver and barrelare moved rearward, the projections a strike the shoulders 0 and thebreech-bolt is released from the receiver and is permitted to slide backin it, as shown in Fig. 9. The breechbolt is pressed forward to closethe breech by means of a spring d mounted on a springholder (1 andarranged. on one side of the breech-bolt.

The breech-bolt slides longitudinally in the receiver, and d is thefiring-pin, which slides longitudinally in the breech-bolt. A spring dinside the front end portion of the breechbolt engages with ascrew-thread on the firingpin and retracts the firing-pin andprevents itfrom projecting prematurely from the breechbolt. This spring slides backand forth with the said pin when the pin is taken out or replaced in thebreech-bolt. The spring is less liable to become lost when the firearmis taken apart and does not become stuck in the breechbolt and requirespecial appliances for extracting it.

A key (1 engages with slots in the'breechbolt and firing-pin and couplesthe said parts during the loading movements of the weapon. The key ispressed down by a spring (i and its projecting head d bears against theshoulder (1 on the firing-pin. The bottom of the key is inclined, and asthe breech-bolt is moved forward the bottom of the key strikes theprojection e on the lock-frame, which ICC raises the said head clear ofthe shoulder and permits the firing-pin to be driven forward in thebreech-bolt by the hammer against the pressure of the spring (1 Abreech-bolt slide a is arranged in a slot in the right-hand side of thereceiver a and is provided with a knob a for sliding it back and forth.The said slide is provided with a projection a, which engages with ashoulder (1 on the breech-bolt. An automatic catch a is pivoted to thesaid slide by a pin cfi'and is provided at its rear'part with aratchettooth a and a tappet a A push-pin a, is slidable in the knobagainst the pressure of a spring a and the said push-pin is operativelyconnected to the front end of the catch a The catch is set so as toadapt the weapon for rapid firing or for single firing. When the tooth ais arranged in the path of the shoulder d", as shown in Figs. 5 and 10,the breech-bolt is arrested each time it is driven backward and mustsubsequently be released by pressing the push-pin, thus timing theweapon for single firing. When the said tooth is arranged out of thepath of the said shoulder, as shown in Fig. 11, the breechbolt is notarrested and the weapon is adapted for rapid firing. The adjustment ofthe catch is effected by a safety-catch j, which is pivoted or screwedon a pin f projecting from the end plate fot the receiver. The endplatefis provided with projections which engage with grooves f on thereceiver, and it is held in position by a catch f*.

The safety-catch hasa disk f provided with two deep notches f andf and ashallow notch f between the deep notches, for the tappet. 0. to engagewith. When the safety-catch is turned to the right, as shown in Figs. 10and 13, the tappet enters the deep notch f, and the breech-bolt isarrested at the end of each rearward movement. When the safetycatch isplaced in its middle position, as shown in Figs. 11 and 14, the tappetengages with the shallow notch and the breech-bolt is not arrested.\Vhen the safety-catch is turned to the left, as shown in Fig. 15, thetappet engages with the deep notch f and the breech-bolt is arrested, asbefore, and, in addition, a projection f on the catch engages theinclined end portion 9' of the hammercatch 9 and thrusts it forward.tion also enters a groove in the frame 0.

The hammer k is pivoted in the lock-frame h, which is supported in theframe a. The hammer-catch slides in a lug g on the under side of thereceiver and is provided with a point 9 which engages with a notch 71-in the hammer when the hammer is cocked and the hammer-catch is pushedforward. A spring q is provided for retracting the hammer-catch. Whenthe hammer-catch and the safety-catch are operated, the hammer is lockedto the receiver and the receiver is locked tothe frame 0, which issecured to the stock of the weapon, so that the barrel cannot slide.

The projec- In order to retain the barrel (together'with the receiver)in its rearward position independent of the safety-catch, and afterfiring a shot, until the breech-bolt has been moved forward and haspushed the cartridge at the top of the magazine into thebarrehabarrelcatch m (see Fig. 16) is pivoted'on apin m, arrangedlongitudinally in the lock-frame h. This catch is moved laterallyoutward into a recess a in the receiver by its spring we when thereceiveris "moved backward with the barrel. When the breech-bolt isretracted, it. locks the catch in the recess, as shown in Fig. 12.

When the breech-bolt slides forward into the position shown in Fig. 5,it moves past the barrel-catch m, which is then pushed laterally out ofthe recess by the receiver as it slides forward after the breech-bolthas completed its forward movement. Inclined surfaces 8 and 9 areprovided on the catch m and on the receiver at one end of the recess, sothat the receiver-operating mechanism overcomes the pressure of thespring m A pusher 71. is pivoted in the lock-frame 71-, and its upperend bears against the lug 9" and operates to push forward the receiverand barrel. A guide-chamber h for the spring and pistons is arranged inthe lock-frame in an upwardly and forwardlyinclined position andcontains a spiral spring h A piston h engages with one end of the springand operates against the hammer, and a piston 72. engages with the otherend of the spring and operates against the pusher. The sear-spring 7L7is arranged in a chamber under the chamher It. The sear-spring bearsagainst the sear-pawl h which is articulated to the sear h". The searhas two guide-ribs h, which slide in grooves 71, in the lock-frame, (seeFig. 19,) and h are lugs in rear of the said grooves for the lugs 72,which project from the sides of the sear-pawl, to slide on.

The trigger a" is pivoted to the trigger-. guard Z and is provided witha nose 1. This nose is normally pushed upward and rearward by thetrigger-spring 11, which is held against the top of the trigger-guard bylugs i projecting from the frame 0. The trigger-spring also holds theretractible bolt 2' in engagement'with the bottom plate of the magazine.

The magazine is arranged under the breech. The feed-plate and the bottomplate 70 are provided with lugs is near their front ends, and k is azigzag spring arranged KOO TlO

front portion e of the lock-frame is placed over therear wall 0 of themagazine. The rear nose '11 of the trigger-guard engages with aprojection c on the frame a, and all the parts are finally secured byinserting the bottom plate of the magazine.

The weapon is operated as follows: When required for rapid firing, thesafety-catch is placed in its middle position and the breechbolt isdrawn back by the knob 0. until its front'end is engaged by the stop 703on the rear end of the cartridge-supply plate of the magazine, which hasrisen in front of the breechbolt under the action of its spring is, andthe knob is pushed forward to its original position. In drawing back thebreech-bolt the hammer'is cocked partly by the projection a on thebreech-bolt slide and partly by the shoulder d'* on the breech-bolt. Themagazine is then filled with cartridges by means of a cartridge-holderof approved construction. When the empty holder is removed from themagazine, the breech-bolt is pressed forward by its spring 01 andthereceiver and barrel are pressed forward by the pusher h so that thetop cartridge is pushed into the barrel and the weapon is in a propercondition to be fired.

The weapon is fired by the trigger, which presses the sear-pawl and searforward by means of its nose. The hammer is disengaged when the sear ispushed forward and is then operated by its spring 71?, so that itstrikes the rear end of the firing-pin and drives it against the cap ofthe cartridge, so that the cartridge is exploded. The barrel andbreech-bolt first recoil together. The locking-dogs (by the lugs a.engaging the shoulders 0 which forces out their rear ends) then unlockthe breech-bolt, which continues to move back underits requiredmomentum,and the barrel-catch enters the recess a. and temporarily locksthe barrel and receiver to the stock. The empty cartridge-shell isejected in the usual manner when the breech-bolt is driven rearward. Therearward motion of the breech-block also cooks the hammer, which is heldcooked by the sear. The breech-bolt having completed its rearwardmovement is at once pushed forward by its spring, and as soon as thebreech-bolt is clear of the barrel-catch the receiver and barrel arepushed forward by the spring-operated pusher, which overcomes thepressure of the barrel-catch spring. The weapon can be fired as rapidlyas the trigger can be pulled, the speed depending upon the skill of theoperator.

When for tactical reasons the rate of firing is to be approximated tothat of a single-firing weapon, the safety-catch is placed in theposition shown in Fig. 13'. The forward motion of the breech-bolt is nowarrested at the end of each recoil, and the breech-bolt cannot moveforward until it has been released from the pivoted catch by pressingthe push-pin a As it takes a certain amount of time to oper ate thepush-pin before pulling the trigger,

the rate of firing is diminished to a substantially predeterminedextent.

. When blank cartridges are fired, the breech bolt must be retracted byhand.

What I claim is 1. In a firearm, the combination, with a slidablebreech-bolt, of an automatic catch for retaining the said bolt when slidback, a safety-catch for placing the said automatic catch out of actionand means for disengaging the automatic catch from the breech-boltindependent of the safety-catch, substantially as set forth.

2. In a firearm, the combination, with a slidable breech-bolt, of apivoted catch for retaining the said bolt automatically when slid back,a safety-catch engaging with one end of the pivoted catch and operatingto place it into or out of action, and means for disengaging the pivotedcatch from the breech-bolt engaging with the opposite end of the pivotedcatch and operating independently of the safety-catch, substantially asset forth.

3. In a firearm, the combination, with a frame, a receiverslidable inthe frame, and a breech-bolt slidable in the receiver; of an automaticcatch for retaining the said bolt when slid back, and a safety-catchoperating to place the said automatic catch out of action and to lockthe said receiver to the said frame, substantially as set forth.

4. In a firearm, the combination, with a slidable breech-bolt, and apivoted hammer; of an automatic catch for retaining thesaid bolt whenslid back, a hammer-catch for looking the hammer when cocked, and asafetycatch operating to place the said automatic catch out of actionand to move the hammercatch into engagement with the hammer,substantially as set forth.

5. In a firearm, the combination, with a frame, a receiver slidable inthe frame, and a breech-bolt slidable in the receiver; of an automaticcatch for retaining the said bolt when slid back, a hammer-catch forlocking the hammer when cooked, and a safety-catch operating to placethe said automatic catch out of action, to lock the said receiver to thesaid frame, and to move the hammer-catch into engagement with thehammer, substantially as set forth.

6. In a firearm, the combination, with a receiver, and a breech-boltslidable therein; of an automatic catch arranged at one side of thereceiver and operating to retain'the said bolt when slid back, and asafety-catch pivoted to the rear end of the receiver and operating toplace the automatic catch in and out of action, substantially as setforth.

7. In a firearm, the combination, with a frame provided with a grooveand secured to the stock, a receiver slidable in the said frame, and ahammer; of a ham mer-catch carried by the receiver and operating to lockthe hammer when cocked, and a safety-catch pivoted to the end of thereceiver and provided with a projection which interlocks with the saidgroove and moves-the ham mer-catch into engagement with the hammer,substantially as set forth.

8. In a firearm, the combination, with a receiver, and a breech-boltslidable therein; of an automatic catch pivoted on one side of thereceiver and operating to retain the said bolt when slid back, and asafety-catch pivoted to the end of the receiver and normally holding theautomatic catch out of action, said safetycatch having a notch forreceiving one end portion of the automatic catch when in action and formoving it out of action, substantially as set forth.

9. In a firearm, the combination, with a frame provided with shoulders,a receiver slidable in the said frame, and a breech-bolt slidable in thesaid receiver; of locking-dogs having their middle portions pivoted tothe receiver and looking it to the breech-bolt when 'the said parts areslid forward, said dogs being operated positively in each direction bythe said shoulders, substantially as set forth. 10. In a firearm, thecombination, with a frame, a receiver slidable in the said frame, and abreech-bolt slidable in the said receiver; of locking devices securingthe breech-bolt to the receiver when the said parts are slid forward,means for sliding the said parts forward, and a catch operating toprevent the receiver from being slid forward until after the breech-bolthas been slid forward, sub stantially as set forth.

11. In a firearm, the combination, with a breech-bolt, and a firing-pinslidable therein; of a key slidable in slots in the said bolt and pinand provided with a projecting head for holding the said pin retractedin the said bolt,

and means for sliding the said key so as to permit the firing-pin toslide in the breechbolt, substantially as set forth.

12. In a firearm, the combination, with a slidable breech-bolt, and afiring-pin slidable therein; of a key slidable in slots in the said boltand pin and provided with an inclined portion and a projecting head forholding the said pin retracted in the said bolt, and a projectionarranged in the path of the saidjnclined portion, whereby the key isslid in the slots to release the firing-pin as the breech bolt is slidforward, substantially as set forth.

13. In a firearm, the combination, with a receiver, and a breech-boltslidable therein and provided with a shoulder; of a slide in thereceiver provided with a; projection engaging with the said shoulder andaifording a means for retracting the breech-bolt by hand, and anautomatic catch pivoted to the said slide and engaging with the saidshoulder when the slide is in its normal position and the breech-bolt isslid back, substantially as set forth.

14. In a firearm, the combination, with a receiver, and a breech-boltslidable therein; of a slide in the receiver engaging with thebreech-bolt, an operating-knob on the slide,

saidframe; of a slidable breech-bolt receiver provided with a recesswith which the said catch engages when the receiver is slid back, and aslidable breech-bolt which looks the catch in the said recess whenretracted and frees it when slid forward, substantially as set forth. I

16. In a firearm, the combination, with a frame secured to the stock, atrigger, and a sliding sear; of a slidable breech-bolt receiver andbarrel rigidly secured together, a pusher pivoted at its middle part inthe rear part of the said frame and having its upper part operativelyconnected with the receiver, and a spring-pressed piston carried by themiddle part of the said frame and bearing against the lower part of thepusher belowits pivot, whereby the receiver and barrel are slid forward,substantially as set forth.

17. In a firearm, the combination, with a lock-frame, and aspring-pressed hammer pivoted therein; of a scar slidable in the frameunder the hammer, a sear-pawl articulated to the sear, a trigger foroperating the sear pawl, and a spring for retracting the searpawl andsear, substantially as set forth.

18. In a firearm, the combination, with a lock-frame provided withsupports for the sear-pawl and guides for the sear, and a spring-pressedhammer pivoted in the said frame; of a scar slidable in the said guides,a sear-pawl articulated to the scar and provided with lugs which rest onthe said supports, a trigger for operating the sear-pawl, and a springfor retracting the sear-pawl and sear, substantially as set forth.

10. In a firearm, the combination, with a lock-frame provided with anupwardly and forwardly inclined guide-chamber, a trigger, and aslidingsear; of a hammer pivoted to the front part of the frame below the frontend of the chamber, a spring-pressed piston hearing against the hammerabove its pivot, a bar-' relpusher pivoted in the rear part of the frameabove the rear end of the chamber, and a spring-pressed piston bearingon the said pusher below its pivot, said pistons being arranged in thesaid chamber, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL MAUSER. Witnesses:

WALDEMAR HAUPT, EMIL L. GOLDSCHMIDT.

